sand woman

sometimes when I think
you can no longer hurt me
you’ll start one word
slanted and suspicious
can whip up the past
take us both by storm shifting
the landscape ripping through
defenses planted long ago
they could have grown
into thick trees barriers
for wind or flowers
delicate and fine
but no

you whirl toward my door
our old stuff rising like a dune
pressing on the roof
dumping me into a shadowed rut
it threatens burial forces me
back to the sand woman I am
destined to scoop from dawn
till dusk bearing my bowl
a life’s work falling
into my eyes over my skin
fine grains in the food sand
drifting faster
than I can clear